Harvest Winefest benefits local schools

More than a dozen wineries and breweries will showcase their collections on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mojo's Kitchen428. One hundred percent of the profits benefit students at Woodland's public schools.

The Woodland Schools Foundation's latest donations will benefit students throughout the district. Foundation President Tania Garcia-Cadena presented a check for $42,000 to the school board at their meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Raised at the Country 4 Coaches concert, this money will fund coaches' stipends at the middle and high schools -- responding to deep cuts in the schools' sports programs.

More recently, the foundation board voted to donate $16,000 to restore four "noon duty" playground supervision positions for one year. The funds will be distributed evenly across all of the elementary schools in the district.

"Teachers and administrators identified noon duty as the best use for the money we raised at Burgers & Brew and our Fourth of July run," says Garcia-Cadena.

"Having that extra prep time makes a huge difference for teachers who are also coping with larger class sizes."

She acknowledges that unfortunately there wasn't enough money to completely cover noon supervision for the whole district. "I wish we could. What the foundation can do is act as a 'pass-through' for PTAs to supplement funds for noon duty at their individual schools." PTA leaders who are interested should contact the Woodland Schools Foundation for more information.

In the past two years, WSF has raised about $70,000 for Woodland public school students. Earlier donations partially restored middle and high school extra duty stipends and funding to the elementary GATE program.

Formed by concerned parents, the foundation is entirely staffed by volunteers, so all funds go straight to the students.

Mojo's Kitchen428 is in the historic Jackson Building at 428 First St., in downtown Woodland. Purchase tickets at brownpapertickets.com, at Mojo's Kitchen428 or at National Town and Valley Properties. Remaining tickets will be available at the door for $35. For more information or to volunteer with the Woodland Schools Foundation, contact Tania Garcia-Cadena at 661-0763 or taniagc@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.woodlandschoolsfoundation.org.